Just in case it is relevant to anyone, we have changed to Daylight Saving Time in NZ this weekend. Our clocks have gone forward by one hour.
Rob.

This has to stop. Don't you Kiwis realize that your curtains are fading because of the additional sunlight hours? And how are the poor sheep taking this?

Don't think there is any likelihood of faded curtains at this point, not with the weather we have been experiencing in the last week!! Msybe tatty and in shreds, but not faded. Haven't seen any sheep lately to chat with but I guess they will be out there with their stiff upper lips, braving it out.

We love it, DL. It makes our tomatoes ripen much faster.

Thanks for the heads up kiwi-rob. My son is living there and I am always trying to figure out when we might skype or chat. So let me get this clear. I am in California so I was counting back 5 hours and going to tomorrow to know what time it was. Now I will count back 4, in a couple of weeks we go off daylight savings time and none of this will matter I guess. I am sure the sheep are adapting just fine!

kmh7 do what I do with my DD who is living in NYC we are in Nelson NZ. We have a clock set to NY time right by the computer so I can just look and see that it's 3am over there when I feel like skyping. We do tend to skype at that hour actually as she and her DH are musicians and are often only getting home around 3am or so.

not having ever experienced such long daylight hours.!! very confused when trying to figure out the best time to do the milford cruise/short treks etc... which part of the day is deemed mid day? - hottest sun etc. (travelling late December where sunset is predicted at 9pm!?)
would also like nice light for good photography whenever possible and avoid trekking during the hottest time of the day.any information re this would be appreciated

Very seldom would you encounter temperatures in the Te Anau/Milford area that would be too hot for trekking (or anything else for that matter), nikidi. Likewise for most parts of NZ, but it can get a bit hot on the eastern side of both North and South Islands and in Cental Otago from around mid-January to mid-March on occasions. Those occasions would be the exception rather than the rule, though.

As in many other locations, morning and evening are probably going to be your best photography times. The sunlight here can be very bright, brutally so at times in the middle of summer, and this can make photography a bit challenging. On the other hand you can get some great blue sea and sky shots - plus some grey, misty, moody shots on the not-so-good days as well (we do have them). In late December, the weather can be a bit unsettled, so it would be wise to anticipate a bit of rain sometime.

Rob.

thanks kiwi rob - this is going to sound very silly but what time do you mean by evening - is it 4.30-6.30pm or 7-9pm? or do yo have the "good" light from around 4.30pm till sundown at 9pm??..

looking at booking the 1.50pm cruise for milford.(recomended on the forum) should we opt for a later cruise?

In late December, the sun will still be high in the sky at 4.30, and it can still be quite hot at 6.00. At that time of year, I think of evening as from around 7.00 onwards.

In the bottom of the South Island, on a fine day, it will still be light until 9.30.

Rob.

One more question kiwi_rob, I am planning drive times on SI. We are there the last part of Nov. first part of Dec. will I have daylight until 9ish? That will make a difference to how far I can get in a day.Thanks so much Rob

At that time of year, the sun will be setting around 9.00pm in the southern part of the South Island, and you could expect up to half an hour of twilight on a clear day, kmh7.
Rob.

Thanks Rob I really appreciate the help!

thnx..you've been a great help!